December 18, 2017

Launch NY Newsletter – December 2017

Launch NY

Launch NY News & Updates	Upcoming Events
Launch NY Seed Fund Finishes 2017 Strong In 2017 the Launch NY Seed Fund closed more than 16 investments, becoming the most active seed fund in Upstate NY. Over $500,000 has been invested by Launch NY in our region’s most promising startups, attracting an additional $700,000 in co- and follow-on investments. All of this has only been possible thanks to our amazing supporters, but there is more work to be done! Use your end of year donation to help us reach our $5M goal to fuel more companies in the future. You and others who want to see our region thrive can make a charitable donation online or contact Launch NY President and CEO, Marnie LaVigne at mlavigne@launchny.org. #LaunchHour TwitterChat: Join Launch NY Startup’s 2017 Year in Review Want to meet the companies Launch NY has invested in? Join us on Wednesday, December 20^th at noon for #LaunchHour TwitterChat along with several Launch NY clients. Share the success and challenges in 2017 and your startup’s goals for 2018! Our panelists include SimpleFund, Thimble, Tuzag, and more!	December 20, 2017 #LaunchHour TwitterChat: Join Launch NY Startup’s 2017 Year in Review 12:00 – 1:00 PM January 3, 2018 RocGrowth Candids 5:30 – 7:30 PM Rochester, NY January 10, 2018 Western NY Venture Association Forum 7:30 – 9:30 AM Buffalo, NY January 31, 2017 NY Economic Development Council 2018 Conference Albany, NY

Startup Spotlight
Patient Pattern Closes New Investment Congratulations to Patient Pattern on their most recent investment of $105,000 from the Buffalo Angels! Wheatfield Gardens is Changing the Way We Grow Our Food Wheatfield Gardens, LLC was founded to establish a controlled environment agriculture technology incubator in Western NY. Wheatfield gardens is a 12.5 acre greenhouse located in North Tonawanda, NY. Greenhouses and vertical farms are essential to providing enough fresh food for our growing population. Wheatfield Gardens is focusing on novel technologies developed by Tropos Technologies that utilize clean energy and renewables to be the most resource efficient Controlled Environment Greenhouse in the world. We can grow more using less for our local communities in Western NY. “We appreciate the help Launch NY has provided us as we work toward this goal. We received expert advice to develop a det ailed business plan. Steve Leous, our entrepreneurs-in-residence, also helped identify key local and state stakeholders that could provide energy efficiency incentives and guidance to reach our ambitious goals.” – Paal Elfstrum, COO, Wheatfield Gardens

#LaunchHour TwitterChat Tips	Launch NY Resources
LaunchHour TwitterChats are monthly virtual chats featuring important topics for startups and entrepreneurs. Join us monthly to hear from industry experts on our panel. If you missed us you can view our past TwitterChats in our archive and checkout some great tips from previous months below! November 15, 2017 #LaunchHour: From Local to Global Startup View the whole chat on Storify. Q2. What is Global Entrepreneurship Week? Craig Turner (@SEAWNYsmallbiz) – For us, Global Entrepreneurship Week is a dedicated time to celebrate the importance of small businesses to the world’s economy and the chance to enjoy the successes and lament the challenges we all face – together #LaunchHour High Tech Rochester (@HighTechRoch) – An excellent opportunity to brainstorm ways to tackle the challenges that lie ahead #LaunchHour Q6. How does a startup go from local to global success? Small Business Festival (@SmallBizFest)– Going global = finding customers and distributors for your products. Visit trade shows, do your homework and go for it! 80% of exports are done by companies with 20 employees or less #LaunchHour Craig Turner (@SEAWNYsmallbiz) – We all have big plans when our idea is sketched on the back of a napkin, but we hear consistently how niche marketing and managed growth are keys to success #LaunchHour. Manoj Pooleery (@mphisocial) – Local success to global success would need a solid strategy, execution power, and a mental shift, and maybe a different team #LaunchHour Q7. What challenges do startups face when accessing the global market? Small Business Festival (@SmallBizFest)– Challenges include shipping – know your harmonized code! Figure out how to ship profitably. #LaunchHour Marnie LaVigne (@MarnieLaVigne2) – Do the work to vet the opportunity before you commit or spend big money. Relationships in new markets are important, but be sure it’s not the only reason you decide to go there. #LaunchHour. Manoj Pooleery (@mphisocial) – Regulations, language, currency, but nothing that can’t be overcome! #LaunchHour View the whole chat on Storify. Join us for our next #LaunchHour TwitterChat, this Wednesday, December 20, 2017!	Upstate NY Resource Network Check it out here > Upstate NY Rainforest Canvas Study Check it out here > 5 Business Stages – Where are you? Each stage contains critical deliverables for moving forward. Starting with the Explore stage, see where you are on the path to success. Find out here > Entrepreneur Toolkit The toolkit is a set of templates and links designed to help start, launch and grow your business in upstate New York. Check it out here > Is Launch NY a fit for you? Launch NY provides entrepreneurs experienced mentoring using best practice processes and connections to specialized resources both in and beyond the Upstate NY ecosystem.Thus preparing you to compete for and win the funding and additional resources needed to move forward. Apply Now! >

Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Introduction
Meet Brad Treat
Brad is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the Southern Tier Startup Alliance and Rev: Ithaca Startup Works. He is Faculty at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell College of Engineering, and Ithaca College School of Business. Brad specializes in teaching entrepreneurship from an experiential perspective to entrepreneurial students actively starting real companies. As a consultant, advisor, and board member for several technology startups, he has established a niche around creative fund raising. Brad was most recently the Founding CEO of Mezmeriz, a high-tech company making interactive projectors and reality capture cameras. Mezmeriz is based on patented MEMS technology developed by company cofounder Shahyaan Desai at Cornell. Earlier in his career, Brad worked for eight years in the automotive industry in both the US and Spain at Bowles Fluidics and GKN Automotive. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State, and an MBA from the Johnson School at Cornell. Read more about Brad and our other EIRs on our website.

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